Robert K Stephen (CSW)

A Couple of Portuguese Reds

I had the great fortune to be invited to the Dão region of Portugal for a wine tour a few years ago. The Portuguese know very well how to arrange these tours. We lodged at a hotel in Viseu and made our forays into beautiful wine country each morning returning home in the late afternoonContinue reading “A Couple of Portuguese Reds”

Vacay Ranks 20 Best Places for Post-Pandemic Travel in Canada

TORONTO, ONTARIO (March 9, 2021) — British Columbia and the Atlantic provinces lead a ranking of outstanding destinations to explore as the pandemic wanes. Noting the anticipated joyful celebrations that will likely coincide with fall harvest season, the digital magazine Vacay.ca™ has selected the South Okanagan at the top of its “20 Best Places to Travel inContinue reading “Vacay Ranks 20 Best Places for Post-Pandemic Travel in Canada”

Poetry Break: “Again The Little Lost Boy Who Suffered for 45 Years”

Again The Little Lost Boy Who Suffered for 45 Years 8 years oldsomewhat oblivious to realitypretending to be asleephis brother and sister whisperedso as not wanting the little boy to hearthat his father was dying of bladder cancerwhat were they trying to hide?clueless to the damage of this exclusion And so the father diedthe familyContinue reading “Poetry Break: “Again The Little Lost Boy Who Suffered for 45 Years””

Tara Brach’s “Radical Acceptance Embracing your Life With The Heart of a Buddha”; Self Compassion

“Offering ourselves such care might feel strange and unfamiliar at first, as it did for Daniel. Sometimes expanding compassion to ourselves in this way feels downright embarrassing. It can trigger a sense of shame about being needy and undeserving, shame about being self indulgent. But this revolutionary act of treating ourselves tenderly can begin toContinue reading “Tara Brach’s “Radical Acceptance Embracing your Life With The Heart of a Buddha”; Self Compassion”

Mutantism on the March: Chapter 16 “The Floodgates Open”

Chapter 16 “The Floodgates Open” Squid swam on feeling like he had abandoned his aboriginal friends. His travels were extensive. Frequently he would be received with warmth and hospitality but more often than not he was chased away on suspicions he was some sort of evil omen or warlock. Squid eventually found a home inContinue reading “Mutantism on the March: Chapter 16 “The Floodgates Open””

Poetry Corner: “The Lost Little Boy Who Suffered for 45 Years:”

The Lost Little Boy Who Suffered for 45 Years Poor little gaffer when his father died when he was ninedazed and confused he had no idea he was in for a rough timewasn’t even allowed at the funeral that being a lasting psychological crime Sent to a British style private schoolwith his poor shattered mindContinue reading “Poetry Corner: “The Lost Little Boy Who Suffered for 45 Years:””

Sardine Memories: Portugal’s Vinho Verde Wines and My Sardine Blues

Vinho Verde is in the Minho region just north of Opporto and actually some of the Minho juts into Spain. Vinho Verde can be made from 25 grapes or a combination of them. Traditionally these wines were so acidic you could see a slight fizz to the wine. Over the past few years they haveContinue reading “Sardine Memories: Portugal’s Vinho Verde Wines and My Sardine Blues”

Tara Brach’s “Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With The Heart of the Buddha”; Self Compassion

” If we’ve injured someone and are embroiled in guilt and self-recrimination, compassion for ourselves allows us to find a wise and healing way to make amends. If we are drowning in grief and sorrow, arousing compassion helps us remember the love and connection in our life. Rather than pushing them way, we free ourselvesContinue reading “Tara Brach’s “Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With The Heart of the Buddha”; Self Compassion”

Yahoo for the vaccine so said the leaders of us guinea pigs!

What’s Not Being Said About the Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine. “Human Guinea Pigs”? By F. William EngdahlGlobal Research, March 06, 2021Region: Europe, USATheme: Science and Medicine First published on December 25, 2020 Bill Gates is actively financing and promoting new untested vaccines supposed to keep us at least somewhat safe from a ‘ghastly” death from the novel coronavirus and supposedly allowContinue reading “Yahoo for the vaccine so said the leaders of us guinea pigs!”

Poetry Corner: “Do you think you can escape your anger and forgive?”

Do you think you can escape your anger and forgive? Back again with anger!I have said you might be skilled enough to escape anger with self-compassionand I think we can all do this But if some act has been done by THEM against youcan you forgive? The secular Buddhistsand the mindfulness gurus seem to opineContinue reading “Poetry Corner: “Do you think you can escape your anger and forgive?””